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Denis Buffet-Auger established a clarinet workshop in 1825 in Paris. Buffet clarinets became widely recognized for their award-winning quality as early as the 1889 Universal Exhibition in Paris. Buffet clarinets first came to the United States in 1918 and have been sold there since. Because Buffet clarinets have such a long history, determining the model can be exciting, especially if you discover that yours is one of the original--and valuable--models.
- An extremely fine Selmer 10G clarinet, in Silver plate. This instrument is a commission sale for Clarinets Direct, having been last owned by a London based, Jazz player. The Selmer 10G was named for Anthony Gigliotti, onetime principal Clarinet of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
- Selmer Paris Recital Model 16R Eb Clarinet 5.0.
- Sep 14, 2015 There are many different types of clarinets built by Selmer (Paris), each with their own special features. Here's the serial number list of these clarinets, with the addition of a list of the various bores and barrel sizes.
- View the manufacturing date ranges on serial numbers for many of our legendary brands.
Examine the side of the upper body of the clarinet to find the long, thin key just above the only hole located on the back of the instrument. This is the register key. Beside the top of the register key should be a marking that Buffet uses to identify the model of the clarinet. All Buffet clarinets come stamped with the basic, round logo, so any other distinguishing marks can be used for identification. If there is a letter followed by a number, such as B12' or 'E11,' stamped below the emblem, this is the model of your clarinet.
Check below the emblem for a small, metal plaque or a marking that appears to have held such a plaque at one time. Buffet uses these plaques to identify modern, professional-grade clarinets. Determining the model without the original stamp or plaque involves such technical differences that you will need to enlist the help of an expert.
If the word 'EVETTE' is stamped in the center of your the Buffet emblem, it is one of the company's student- or intermediate-level clarinets from before 1983. A wooden-bodied clarinet with this emblem is a B12 model, and a plastic-bodied is the E11. Some Evettes also may have 'Master Model' stamped below the emblem. These upgraded models were mostly produced before the 1960s.
If the emblem stamped on your clarinet has no extra markings, stamps or plaques, it could be one of the highly regarded R13 models. Check your clarinet's serial number, located on the case or on a small stamp on the back of the barrel. If the number is above 50,000, it is likely an R13. You can also look at the 'A' and 'A' flat keys near the top of the clarinet. If the two keys are fused onto a single joint, your clarinet is not an R13.
Bundy Selmer Clarinet Serial Numbers
There has been no end to the discussions and arguments about serial numbers and models and years of manufacture of Selmer Saxophones (and Clarinets) for as long as I have participated on this forum and also the (now mostly defunct) 'Selmer' forum.
I have answered questions about serial numbers and approximate years for manufacture for years based on a typewritten serial number list that was once distributed by Ralph Morgan. I am sure that I do not have the only copy of this list in existence and I am also sure that I have seen this list duplicated somewhere on the web, but retyped by someone who obviously must have had a copy of this same 'Morgan' list.
I have never distributed this list as long as Ralph was alive because I figured that if he wanted to publish it more aggressively, that was his business...not mine. Now that he is gone, I can see no harm in distributing this.
I have also included a 'copy-and-paste' of an e-mail he sent to me regarding the list. You can make up your own mind regarding what you do or don't believe. I think it is likely to be the most accurate list of Selmer serial numbers 'unofficially' published. Ralph's own words indicate a high level of confidence in accuracy.
From what I can see, the Saxophone list 'seems' to lose detail after 1965 and I'm not sure that I would take it as 'gospel' from 1966 and forward.
Also, it looks like the Clarinet list lacks in detail throughout. I think that I would consider the entire Clarinet list to be 'for approximation only'.
Here is what Ralph himself said about the compilation of the list:
From: Rmorganinfo@aol.com
Tom: This may come as a shock to you, but this is in answer to your e-mail dated 2/28/03!
The list of serial numbers I have circulated was compiled by me directly from the card files in the Elkhart office, and are from the actual production cards, which also contained the name of the dealer or individual the instrument was shipped to, date, etc.. I also have three lists from the factory in France, at different times, and they are all different in most respects, as to models, dates, etc.. I know that mine are accurate, though.
Attachment 3007
Attachment 3008
Attachment 3009
I think it would be interesting if anyone who has a horn with a dated warranty card in it, or a dated receipt with a serial number on it could compare a well documented date to this list and see if it lines up.
I have a Series 9 Clarinet with original purchase documentation (my uncle bought it brand new) and Ralph's list indicates a manufacturing year of 1967 and that matches the year on the paperwork, but the Clarinet list seems 'vague' to me so my example might not be a good test.